Espresso Dreams: Dumaguete

Cafe Memento Dumaguete

In daydreams I go back to Negros Oriental – the hum of the waters in Valencia, the beaches of Siaton and Dauin, the sandbar of Manjuyod, the vast sugar cane plantations of Bais and Tanjay, the rustic charm of Dumaguete, and the spectacular marine life of the famed Apo Island.

People come to Dumaguete for a variety of reasons – to go to school, to retire, to marry. Some just want to satiate their curiosity, while others visit the place to reminisce. A mere tourist calls it Dumaguete, but a true habitué knows it as Doomsville – a term of endearment given by those who call the city home, or at least have an intense love affair with Dumaguete.

A pleasant brew of the old and the new, of the quaint and the sophisticated, and of the naive and the urbane; Doomsville is a charming little city that’s a far cry from your typical blah provincial capital. Whether you’re craving for adventure or you just want to laze around, there’s always something for everyone in Dumaguete.

Cafe Memento Dumaguete

One of the many reasons that made people silly about the city is the whole café culture, which can be broken down based on the ages of its patrons. (This may not be true now, but in my time, there's some sort of an age barrier that ran across it.) The high-end coffee shops, like Cafe Mamia and Don Atilano, have the older generation as clientele. Here, you can observe glamorous albeit near-senescent women sitting around chatting about their apo’s, their haciendas and generally, about times past. Restaurants that serve international cuisines, like Coco Amigos and Le Chalet, are the usual hangout joints of expats who just want to lounge around while enjoying the interesting boulevard scene and the beautiful sea views.

The coffee scene for the younger set, on the other hand, paints a more exciting café atmosphere. This can be categorized into three. First, you have the coffee shops for the non-smoking crowd; Lee Cimballi, Dunkin’ Donuts and Cafe Antonio to name a few. Here, you can see students studying hastily for their next-hour exams. Or folks who just want to-see-and-be-seen.

Under the Wild Mindanaoan Sky

Dipolog City, my hometown. Magnificent sunsets, like this one, are not uncommon.

On our way to Dapitan City, at 12 noon. Near Pulauan Wharf.

Graceful Sunset at the Dipolog City Boulevard.

Remembering Ondoy

September 26 2009. It was been three years since Typhoon Ondoy. We will never forget.

Checking one of the cameras that went underwater. This, together with 8 others, has gone to gadget heaven.

Casualties which we were not able to revived. Books, magazines, reading materials, etc. :(

Coco Beach Resort, Puerto Galera

Coco Beach Island Resort, Puerto Galera, Philippines

REVIEW: I’ve already written a review about Coco Beach for one blog; however, in order for me to post the review here, I’d have to get the approval of the website administrator. So let me just give a brief review. (Rating near the bottom of the post)

IDEAL FOR: A quick RnR with the missus. Or with the entire family.

DATE OF VISIT: April, 2012

Joanna

THE RESORT (Source: Coco Beach website)

Coco Beach Island Resort is a sprawling 10-hectare beach resort with facilities made from all-natural materials. Everything is designed to complement each facility and its natural surroundings. Definitely, an idyllic place to recharge frayed nerves, with its cozy ambiance of bamboo and nipa hut in its very Filipino type of hospitality and accommodation.

If you’re thinking of getting away and escaping to a tropical island paradise, then you’ve found the perfect place.

Coco Beach is located at Behiya, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro where the crystal clear water of the sea is full of life; and the hills are full of coconut palms swaying with the breeze. Here in the old days, Spanish galleons passed by the trading routes between Europe, Mexico and the East.

Today, Coco Beach has bungalows and facilities all made in natural materials. No concrete is to be seen anywhere. We have over four restaurants, 110 rooms, tennis court, hanging bridge, sports facilities, 2 swimming pools, spa – everything blends with nature.

A Woman Named Jocelyn

My name is Dan. And I support Endometrial Cancer Awareness.

Why – you might ask – would a guy like me advocate something which he is totally and physiologically exempt from? Yes, Endometrial Cancer is a silent killer of women, and I could support other causes; however, this issue is particularly close to my heart and let me tell you why.

It’s about a woman named Jocelyn.

She was a firecracker, a thunderbolt of sorts. It’s impossible not to notice Jocelyn even if you throw her amid a cacophony of jungle animals. She never failed to light up any dull and dreary room with her burst of energy. Jolly, funny, witty, and happy are among the many things people would often use to describe Jocelyn.  She was a painter of smiles on everyone’s faces and a refreshing ray of warm sunlight on a cold, gloomy day. She once said that perhaps her only mission in this world was to cheer up those who were down. But to those who loved her, she was much more.

photo not author's own

She was only 4’9” (or 5’1” depending on who’s asking), but she could effortlessly tower anyone twice her size with the enormity of her personality. Jocelyn was a brave little warrior against life’s innumerable and oftentimes extravagant tribulations. With nothing but a chill pill and a purple sword in tow, she was always ready to vanquish many of life’s fire-breathing dragons, especially the one that’s called negativity. She’s arguably one of the most positive people anyone could ever meet. Good vibes always and smile, she would always say. Funny, little girl.

A few days after she turned 53, she was diagnosed with cancer. Endometrial Carcinoma. Stage 4. A little over a year after – on June 13, 2011 – she died peacefully in her home in Dipolog City.

She was my mother.

Driving Miriam Defensor Santiago

Miriam Defensor Santiago stole the spotlight. Yet again. With a fierce glint in her eyes and signature fiery rhetoric in tow, Miriam approached the lectern and called some Supreme Court Justices ‘earthworms.’ I resisted the urge to stand up and clap. But I couldn’t. This woman has bigger cojones than all of the Supreme Court Justices combined. (This piece was written in 2006 – author)

As I was vegetating on my couch half-drunk and pounding on the channel button every 5 seconds, something instantly grabbed my attention. A crazy lady with big hair and funny accent. Then it dawned to me. Miriam. I knew I had to put the remote control down and marvel at her Miriam-ness. Miriam yelled. Miriam screamed. Miriam exploded. Miriam went berserk.

The Issue: She's been removed from the official list of candidates for the Chief Justice position, which will be vacated in a week or two. She suspected conspiracy and sabotage to boot her out of the list. She said she wasn’t angry, but “irate, furious, ballistic, fuming, foaming at the mouth, hitting the roof, homicidal” and basically enumerated every word synonymous with ‘angry.’ That’s my girl!

“I am humiliated! Debased! Degraded! And not only that, I feel like throwing up to be living my iddle years in a country of this nature!“

Nathan Goes to the Park

Nathan Goes to the Park. I miss you big boy.

Manny Pacquiao for President

This post first appeared in 2010, a few days before the Presidential election. We all know what happened. Gibo lost. Noynoy won. What the frack, right? But let's move on.

Glancing up at my calendar a few minutes ago, I realized that in 2013 -- that's next year -- the Philippines will, yet again, hold its biggest and most extravagant beauty pageant slash money contest (read: Elections), when the poor rich politicians will have to endure the blistering heat atop their climate-controlled float, while shaking hands with people they'd rather not share the same air with under normal circumstances.

But it's the elections -- Philippines style! So, politicos, brace yourselves!

So I thought of reposting this entry; I hope no one would mind. I doubt if Gibo's joining though. I think he's had enough already.

ANALYZING GIBO

I am going full blast with my campaign to put Gibo Teodoro in Malacanang.

For weeks now, I have been engaging people into verbal combats as to who deserves to win the upcoming presidential elections. Sadly, for most Filipinos, who would get the vote and who deserves to win are two independent concepts. I say – do not place your bet on someone who does not deserve the presidency. Simple.

You don’t vote for someone just because he’s the son of Mr. and Mrs. Whoever – vote for the candidate who has the capability to run this country. So what if he’s not popular? Popularity isn’t everything. Erap was popular – he still is. But he got booted out of Malacanang, right? And what did we do? We installed his family in Senate, for cry out loud! Why – because they’re popular. Haven’t we learned our lesson yet?

Philippine politics is all about guns, goons, and gold. Or so they say. But really, cold hard cash is the name of the game. Deny that statement and I will call you a hypocrite. Wave a few thousand pesos at anyone – or even a few hundred – and you’re the boss. The amount depends on the social status, of course. And it doesn’t have to be in the monetary form. We see it in the movies, “Panalunin mo ko at iaabswelto kita sa lahat ng mga kaso mo.” We see it happening all the time. People compromise their principles for money. Hell, even some prostitutes give in to fifty bucks. (This author cannot corroborate this statement.)